“This is the highest amount of rainfall recorded in Kenya since 1918. We are appealing to people in areas such as near Masinga dam not to be adamant and move,” said Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government spokesperson Mwenda Njoka.

Although the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) says advisories for flooding areas had been given in ample time, more reports of deaths and destruction continued to trickle in.

Three dead

In Kiambu, three people died and another one sustained serious injuries on Wednesday evening when a quarry collapsed on them as they sheltered from the rain.

The four worked in local stone mining quarries.

The injured man was taken to Thika Level Five Hospital in serious condition, as local authorities warned residents to avoid the quarries during the rains.

Juja sub-county, which is normally largely dry, is dotted with numerous stone quarries that supply Nairobi and surrounding areas with construction material.

In Murang’a, several buildings were destroyed following heavy rains yesterday.

The destruction was reported in Kigumo and Kandara sub-counties. Six police houses in Kigumo were damaged.

A police vehicle was also damaged when a tree fell on it.

“No casualties have been reported, but residents have been warned to ensure they are safe,” said Kigumo OCPD Ibrahim Mchumwa.

At least seven families in Gitugi area in Mathioya were relocated after cracks were spotted inside their houses by a team of geologists.

In Naivasha, tens of families living near rivers Malewa and Karati have been advised to move to safer areas.

River Karati broke its banks in what residents said was the first time in decades.

“We are asking all the families living along rivers Malewa and Karati to move to higher ground as there are fears that the situation could get worse,” said Water Resources Authority (WRA) Naivasha sub-county regional manager Geoffrey Mworia.

Houses and latrines belonging to squatters in the nearby Manera farm were submerged, raising fears of disease outbreak.